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Being a citizen of the United States requires a few civic responsibilities. Such responsibilities include taxes, jury duty, following the law, and attending school until the age of 16. For these basic duties, I am willing to complete them all, some of them reluctantly.

For a while, the US did have a draft for service, but this only applied to men and therefore I would have been exempt (thankfully). If for some reason the US decided to bring the draft back, I really do not think I would be willing to support a country in a war for three reasons: I don’t support war in general, I don’t necessarily enjoy the idea of supporting this country, and because I am so ill-fitted for battle. However, there are other ways for me to aid my community which I enjoy doing, like community service and advocating for the rights of the people in my community. More recently (aka in light of COVID-19) some other civic duties include social distancing/quarantining, wearing masks in public, and maintain good hygiene; all of which I am happy to do.

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As a citizen it is one's duty to go to school until at least 16, pay taxes, go to jury duty when called upon, and vote. An optional one is fight for the country. I'm willing to do all of the above except fight for the country because I'm not fit for war. With the pandemic our job is to maintain a distance, wear a mask, and keep a good hygiene. People who aren't doing that almost a year into the pandemic are absurd and selfish. It's not that difficult and it's not a violation of freedom. In a nation sacrifices need to be made for the greater good.

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Knowing that I'm a native Lebanese citizen, I have the privilege of joining the Lebanese Military or police. Moreover, being a volunteer in the red cross is a way of serving my beloved country as well. There are many ways actually that can be done on behalf of serving our country. To illustrate, in our present days, Covid-19's being a major problem to us, and to fight it we have to take precautions, and the best way to do it is by compulsory wearing our masks and distancing our self from others, by this we can keep others safe and serve our country a big time in an indirect way, But unfortunately, we cant find this king of service in my country...

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In Lebanon military service used to be obligatory however it's not anymore. The law changed years ago. There's isn't a lot of services required by my country. Tax payment is required and due to the Covid situation I think wearing a mask is a service. If military service is required I don't mind joining to serve the people of my country. Other things that I would do for my country is continuously donating and building opportunities for those who need it.

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Protection of the our country, independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine, respect for its state symbols is the duty of the citizens of Ukraine. Citizens serve in the military in accordance with the law. Everyone is obliged not to cause damage to nature, cultural heritage, to compensate the damages caused by him. Of course,also we must abide by the laws of Ukraine and do not disturb them. And I am ready to protect my family, region or country if it's necessary. We can also volunteer to improve our country. Due to the situation in the east of Ukraine(war with Russia), even those who are not required to serve go there. We take the example of soldiers and border guards who defend our country every day and we help them as much as we can. We collect food, clothes and other necessary things for them. Also border guards share their experience with us and we gain new knowledge.

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Minha Umay,Kerala,India

Military service is not mandatory in India,its the person's opinion to do or not.I personally don't want to serve in military,I've never thought about doing so.Eventhough I have a huge respect to the Indian soldiers,they are trying to protect our country while sacrificing their lives.
If my country is facing an emergency situation,I still won't be doing any military service.I want to be with my family at that time.
There is a lot of another ways to serve my society.As a member of my school's Scout and Guide unit,we have been doing some volunteer works for the people around our district.We bought an ambulace for a charity group,giving financial aids for the students from poor family background,initiating awareness programmes,cleaning public places etc.I like to continue this works for my community instead of doing military service.
Paying taxes is compulsory in India and education from 6-14 os also compulsory.

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In Japan, we are obligated to pay tax and take education during the age from 7 to 15. Regards of tax, there are many kinds such as consumption tax(now 10%), income tax, and

living tax. And there is a system that  people  pay money to their hometown and the city returns the city's fruits and food to the person as a reward. This is called hometown tax payment and it promotes regional revitalization.

Regard  of education almost all Japanese have gone to high school and half of them have gone to college or university. In fact, those who have graduate from university is easier to get job and those who haven’t, so there people who cannot get their job therefore they can’t live in a stable life. Some of them is living on the street. So, some Japanese volunteer groups give them meals freely and regularly.

I want to join the volunteer and help them. And also, as Utako said, there are still some mothers who abundant their baby due to unstable living conditions. These days there is a person who killed her baby in my neighbor. To  stop such sorrowful incidents, I would like to join a volunteer to help them.

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In the United States we are privileged when compared to others. Less fortunate countries have laws and obligations that are unseen in the US. Here we have civic responsibilities such as jury duty, taxes, fines, following the law, and all together being a good citizen.

I know that others have very different situations. I am very grateful to live where I do, where we have certain freedoms. From what I have read from news sources and even this padlet from other people's responses I can see that there are lots of different things that countries require from their citizens.

As far as service goes I would be happy to help my country out and fight if needed. However, I would need to make sure that I believed in the cause and the reason as to why we are killing each other. If it was worthy, then by all means I would be happy to go. Our country used to draft people back during the war but it ended back in 1973 and back then it was only men. I'm not sure they would ever open up a draft again unless there was a huge war and I don't know if it would include women.

Overall, as long as I cared and believed in the reason, I would happily go and help my country and serve in whichever way was needed.

I think that we are very grateful where we don't have to seriously consider this question in terms of reality quite yet.

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In Japan, we are obligated to pay taxes, follow laws, and take education during 6~15 years old. We have to pay 10% for taxes and have no tuition during this age. However, most Japanese students have recently gone to school until they become 18 years old. Half of them go to universities, colleges, or vocational schools.

Even though it seems less poverty, there are still people who are left in poverty in Japan. Therefore I want to help them by participating in volunteer work. For instance, there are restaurants called “children’s cafeterias” where not only children but also adults can eat meals cheaply. Furthermore,  I want to help children who get abuse from their parents. This problem has been serious in Japan. In addition, some parents kill their babies after their births. Hence, there are commercials to prevent those incidents in Japan. The commercials allow someone nearby to easily call a child consultation center for those children. However, I think Japanese government has to select more strict laws to protect those children.

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In our country,Myanmar, also has many responsibilities and duties like paying taxes, voting and so on.But our country doesn't have any military service .Anyone of us who longs to serve for military service can freely serve if we are 18 and above.
For me, I used to participate in a project which aims to reduce using plastics.This project is held by my school every year.Almost all students in my school participate in that project. I think keeping our environment clean and safe is also important for our country.
As this is during covid-19 ,I have nothing to do with my environment widely.But I'm now attending a conference called Glean, as an ambassador.Glean aims to donate many books to libraries in Africa.I'm so glad to participate in that conference. This is also one of the obligations globally.
Moreover, this project,Civic Obligations,is also important for teenagers like us.If we know more about the laws and obligations of each country, we will be able to serve our world.
I aim to participate in more projects after this covid period. I think, if we do those duties and obligations individually, our whole world will be more unity and peaceful.

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In Morocco, our civic obligation is to pay taxes etc...
Last year, in my country males and females aged 18 to 20 without work had to join the military due to the shortage of manpower in that field.
In my opinion, if they give me a choice between helping the military and go to war by staying home and waiting for someone else to protect me. I will with the first one, because if each of us will not go to the military and fight for our country, our family...who will do it.
In conclusion, if the country needs help my responsibility as a citizenship I will fight with here until the end.

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Turkey as well as each country's people have a responsibility to do. As far as I know, our responsibilities in the country are to pay taxes, for men to go to the military, to vote, to send their children to school, following laws. My whole family do these responsibilities.

I would do anything for my family, friends and country. But war is not one of the things I can do for them. I do not go to war for nothing, because I know that the reason countries fight is mostly for money. And in my values ​​there is absolutely no killing for money.

There are many ways to benefit the society, briefly, to volunteer in social assistance clubs and try to solve the problem as much as possible, that's why I founded a club in my own school and through this club, I talk to foundations in the country and help children who cannot buy books for the poor, at least the animals in my city. Every time I do these things, I feel happy by myself because contributing to the world and helping people makes me feel why I live.

In some countries volunteering is compulsory and I wish it is compulsory in my country, but it is not and this makes me very sad. Because there are so many needy people, animals and only a small part of the society wants to help them.

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in malaysia school, is all children required to register and start studies at the primary school level till the age of 12. After that, they will further their studies at secondary school level till the age of 18 and they also will continues their studies at university or college level including the taxes.

last years we're should joining pre-military after secondary school we called PLKN, this program teach us how to survive and civic education  in our life. this program walking without taxes.

For me, it's depends on the situation. if world started the war or malaysian have a crisis i had wanna save people especially family. That we're allowed to joining the pre-military program.

in term of service all citizens required to pay taxes no matter where we go but government worker have a half of taxes.

i think, we have a lot of taxes in our lives including the services offered.

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In Lithuania school is obligatory till the age of 16 years old. Adults are resposible for taxes and for men from the age 18 to 23 you might get choosen to do milatary training for 9 months also you can join any time by choice. Also it’s a must  for everyone to follow all laws.

For me personally it really depends on the situation. If war started I’d want to save the people that I care about and if joining the milatary would be the best thing to do at that moment for everyone I’d definetely join. Although I’m against any kind of voilence I wouldn’t hesitate if my country was in danger.

There are also other ways to serve like doing community service, donating money, going to shelters and helping with cleaning, taking care of the animals  that are living there, chatting with elders that don't have any family left and/or they just don't communicate with them (of course with the pandemic this is done way less).

All in all I just want to encourage everyone reading this to try at least once in a while to do some kind of community service. It really does make a differance.

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The United States requires few things from its citizens, much less than many other countries. These primarily consist of going to school until age 16, jury duty, paying taxes, and following laws.
I am happy and willing to do all the above things (although I have definitely wanted to drop out of school at times, and I have been known to jaywalk).
If I were somehow drafted, which is unlikely given that the US doesn't currently have the draft in place and that said draft only includes men, I would go, but unhappily. I do not believe anyone should be forced to go to war, but I would still go because I would not want to break the law. There are many ways I would be willing to serve on behalf of my people, but it is not likely that I would feel comfortable serving via violence. I would not be okay with harming most people, but I would be willing to serve my family and community as a public servant or as part of a governing body. I am also more than willing to help my community via community service, and already have some experience doing so.

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As a US citizen a and a student I am requiered by law to go to school. In addition to this kids are supposed to follow the laws. Specifically at BLS we have the civic duty to do 100 hours of community service. This is supposed to help us in making connections with our communiities to improve the general well being.

As an adult responsibility only grows because you have to abide by the laws but also you must do your taxes, and attened jury duty. Both are requiered and if you try to evade taxes this could lead to jail time.

Other than that we are not requiered to do other civil services. Personally I find helping the community to be very rewarding but this is not everyones experience. We are not requiered to fight in the military and if I had the opportunity to I would definety not join. Although the military does more than just fight wars, I don't think I would be willing to blindly follow the orders of my superiors, or have the guts to do what people in the army due.

In conclusion we do not have a lot of civic responsiblities to do besides obeying the laws, school, taxes, and now wearing a mask. Wearing a mask is for the good of everyone and I would deem this a civic responsibility because it is so important to do.

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In terms of service, big responsibilities that citizens have for the U.S. include paying taxes and jury duty, but military service isn’t mandatory, as well as voting. Some schools in America require that the students do volunteer work, whether that be in-school, out-of-school, or both. In Boston Latin School, the students are required to have done at least 100 hours of community service, 50 hours for outside programs and 50 hours inside the school. Outside organizations are accessible and my options can extend from distributing free food, working in hospitals, attending various yearly events, or it can be as simple as writing meaningful cards for essential workers (relevant to the pandemic now). We also have opportunities within the school to volunteer; working in the main office, nurse’s office, the guidance office, or in the library. As of now, I think that volunteering is what allows us to understand and interact with our community better; without this means of communication, it would be hard to grasp how we can help others. Eventually, this volunteer work becomes not much of a necessity, but more of genuine want to make a difference.

However, I still wonder what I’m able to do in the future for my community as an adult in terms of civic obligation. Because the U.S. has always focused on the idea of individuality and freedom over the obligation to others, many Americans are not committed to doing something for the “greater good” in preference for their personal choice. In terms of military service, I wouldn’t be able to handle the rigorous training and exercise that comes with being a soldier, but I would know to vote and offer service in other ways. Although I cannot legally vote yet, I am still aware of the amount of researching and educating oneself on the legal parties involved and what the candidates have to offer for the betterment of our country. As for jury duty, I would fully take responsibility on my part for contributing to an impartial verdict as someone’s life is on the line. However, I do understand the difficulties in being able to partake in the event someone gets called: I’ve noticed that Americans tend to be job-oriented so they see jury duty as something of a “waste of time” to some extent because they are obligated to go to a court that may be extremely far away and are suffering economically if they don’t have as forgiving or a high-paying job. Another perspective is that jury duty is something that we, citizens or not, have right to do that the government doesn’t have control over, the power to decide whether or not someone is guilty.

As to what I would prioritize, I would care most for my family first and have the means to support them financially and emotionally. In regards to if something were to happen to the U.S., I would still offer my services in ways that wouldn’t pertain to the military, as I wouldn’t be able to contribute much in that area and I don’t think it’s as effective of providing service in comparison to volunteering, speaking out, voting, fundraising, and advocate for my community’s well being. Depending on the situation, and whether I have the means to exercise my civic obligation, I still hope to be able to use my voice by all means as a part of my civic responsibility.

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In terms of service, big responsibilities that citizens have for the U.S. include paying taxes and jury duty, but military service isn’t mandatory, as well as voting. Some schools in America require that the students do volunteer work, whether that be in-school, out-of-school, or both. In Boston Latin School, the students are required to have done at least 100 hours of community service, 50 hours for outside programs and 50 hours inside the school. Outside organizations are accessible and my options can extend from distributing free food, working in hospitals, attending various yearly events, or it can be as simple as writing meaningful cards for essential workers (relevant to the pandemic now). We also have opportunities within the school to volunteer; working in the main office, nurse’s office, the guidance office, or in the library. As of now, I think that volunteering is what allows us to understand and interact with our community better; without this means of communication, it would be hard to grasp how we can help others. Eventually, this volunteer work becomes not much of a necessity, but more of genuine want to make a difference.

However, I still wonder what I’m able to do in the future for my community as an adult in terms of civic obligation. Because the U.S. has always focused on the idea of individuality and freedom over the obligation to others, many Americans are not committed to doing something for the “greater good” in preference for their personal choice. In terms of military service, I wouldn’t be able to handle the rigorous training and exercise that comes with being a soldier, but I would know to vote and offer service in other ways. Although I cannot legally vote yet, I am still aware of the amount of researching and educating oneself on the legal parties involved and what the candidates have to offer for the betterment of our country. As for jury duty, I would fully take responsibility on my part for contributing to an impartial verdict as someone’s life is on the line. However, I do understand the difficulties in being able to partake in the event someone gets called: I’ve noticed that Americans tend to be job-oriented so they see jury duty as something of a “waste of time” to some extent because they are obligated to go to a court that may be extremely far away and are suffering economically if they don’t have as forgiving or a high-paying job. Another perspective is that jury duty is something that we, citizens or not, have right to do that the government doesn’t have control over, the power to decide whether or not someone is guilty.

As to what I would prioritize, I would care most for my family first and have the means to support them financially and emotionally. In regards to if something were to happen to the U.S., I would still offer my services in ways that wouldn’t pertain to the military, as I wouldn’t be able to contribute much in that area and I don’t think it’s as effective of providing service in comparison to volunteering, speaking out, voting, fundraising, and advocate for my community’s well being. Depending on the situation, and whether I have the means to exercise my civic obligation, I still hope to be able to use my voice by all means as a part of my civic responsibility.

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Service is not largely required in the united states other than the bare minimum of paying taxes.

Despite it not being required i think civic service is a great thing to take part in,  and is fulfilling to both yourself and your community. Were also required to complete 100 community service hours for our school which while it can be a pain sometime ive found it to actually be a really rewarding experience which i enjoyed taking part in.

In terms of military we are not required to serve but the Government can create a draft and I was required to sign up for the draft when i filled out fafsa for my college application so while im not required to serve that could change at any time.

Also theres simple things we can do every do which serve our community and society, for example one simple thing we can do is wear a mask when in contact with people, its such a simple thing but can make a big impact.

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Military or civil work isn’t mandated in the United States, though I know this isn’t the case in many other countries, which is quite interesting when you think about how much incentives by federal funding are put into our country’s military and there are benefits when you join any part of our military. For example, the US Army says they “Offer you money for education, comprehensive health care, generous vacation time, family services and support groups, special pay and cash allowances to cover the cost of living.” Yet. . . even with our Defense Department’s budget being $686 billion, over 1 in 10 homeless people in the United States are homeless. This whole dynamic is founded on the principles of individualism here in the United States. The Founding Fathers believed us to be purely focused on our self-interests and why they decided on a representative democracy, because they didn’t want us to encourage unchecked and unbalanced factions amongst ourselves (James Madison, anyone?). Yet, we’re more partisan and polarized than we’ve ever been in terms of political parties. It’s crazy to think about because I remember watching a TedTalk on military service being a requirement for everyone in Israel and how it creates a better sense of patriotism amongst everyone and makes it much easier for former military to return to civilian life. It makes me think about how isolated some veterans feel are when resorting to drugs or alcohol to escape the plagues of war or PTSD, and how lackluster many of our rehabilitation and mental support groups are here. It makes me think about how we haven’t mandated wearing masks or putting stricter curfews out there and that has resulted in 285,000+ deaths as of today. It makes me think about how the Constitution was supposed to encourage larger unification through representation but voting is not even mandatory. Yes, we should feel free in certain aspects of ourselves, to express ourselves freely as we wish but the purpose of government is that one person’s free will does not impose itself into the harm of another. Then you have jury duty and taxes as everyone’s mentioned before, but then there’s also loopholes around both of those things and it really just makes you think about the lack of civic obligation and responsibility that is present within our country, and sure that’s one way we truly are the “land of the free”, but at what cost?

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In terms of what is expected of us when it comes to civic duties, we must (of course) always abide by the law. In addition to that, there are tasks such as completing jury duty, paying taxes, and I believe young men are required to register for the draft. Some may opt to serve their country by joining the military, while others will only do what is required of them and no more. While there definitely are people who join the military to serve their country, I believe many also join for the benefits or simply for a sense of direction.

I personally wouldn’t go father than the bare minimum, especially in this day and age. I simply don’t agree with the direction that I believe the United States is heading towards, therefore I don’t find myself having a high sense of responsibility or moral obligation to the country. This is especially so when it comes to the military, where we seem to be involving ourselves in unnecessary wars and killing many innocents in the process.

When it comes to my own community, I’m much more willing to take a few extra steps. I feel as though the ideas and opinions that my community believes in are not exactly on par with America’s as a whole. It most definitely takes its own side, but it’s a side that I find myself generally supporting. One of the biggest ways I can and have been doing is supporting my community through community service.

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In the US, our main civic obligations are paying taxes, following the laws, and jury duty. Additionally, all US citizens must attend school until the age of 16 (although it ranges from 16-18 depending on the State). This is a form of civic responsibility as many schools were created as "Factory Schools" in order to prepare adolescents for life as a factory worker during the industrial revolution. But other than that, there are no other required forms of civil obligation.

As others have stated, military service is not required but in the past, such as during the Vietnam War, there was a draft that forced some people to serve. However, a mandatory draft would most likely never be allowed now-a-days in the US.

Personally, I do not have any interest in serving as I do not believe in what the US is fighting for. The wars that the US is fighting in the Middle East in order to end the violence only seems to provoke more violence, and they are usually fought for ulterior motives (such as stealing the resources of other countries). To me, war has no real meaning. I agree full heartedly with the quote "war doesn't determine who is right—only who is left" by Churchill as it precisely sums up my thoughts about wars caused by disputes. But even if I was willing to serve in the US military, I would not be allowed to due to the Trump administration's trans military ban. Outside of the ban, the military has a long history of being anti-LGTBQ+, such as having the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" directive. Seeing how this country does not support my community, I do not feel the patriotism that would be required for me to risk my life fighting even if I was permitted. That being said, I have hopes of one day becoming a doctor and have thought about possibly serving as a combat medic, even if only for a short time.

The US military has contacted my family multiple times (as it does with many other high school seniors bound for college) asking if I would be willing to serve. This is because the military will cover most (if not all) of your college tuition after a few years of service.

Similar to others, I believe more in my City and State than I do in my country. This may be from the extreme political divide in the US, or due to the fact that I grew up in Boston and have a sense of community here that I lack elsewhere in the US. I do believe that I would be willing to risk my life to fight for my community if necessary, but only if the cause aligned with my beliefs.

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I think that serving our communities is something great, though I'm not very familiar with such obligations in the United States besides jury duty and taxes. I think much of the time in America, you are paying your dues by acting patriotic, not necessarily through practices of helping the community. We glorify guns and our flag when we think of service, but I think it can be much simpler than that.

I'm very willing to partake in the services I mentioned above — I think taxes are important, though many commit tax fraud which might make taxes more of a burden for others than it needs to be. I also don't currently have an issue with jury duty if it helps our democracy function.

However, many people are mentioning military service as a common social obligation for your country. I think the military includes a whole breadth of people, like those who don't necessarily believe in the military but must enlist for money; there are people who commit war crimes, and there are people who join because they think it is the best way they can protect and serve. But I think that generally this country, historically, has asked of its citizens to participate in many wars which might've not all been productive, so it's a bit difficult to say whether (again, not in all cases, not for all soldiers) our country asks its military to serve its citizens or its power. As someone who sees other ways to service my community (like volunteering, donating, voting, etc.), I don't necessarily consider military service the best way for me to serve the country.

Now, in this pandemic, I am willing to serve my community by wearing masks or social distancing, or signing up for various volunteer events. Ultimately, I think I'd be open to most methods of serving, even when uncomfortable for me, if I feel that they give something of real value back to my neighbors, and are not just fueling a possible sense of nationalism.

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As many other people have noted, the United States was built on individual freedoms more so than the idea of sacrificing for a greater good. The only mandatory service I can think of is jury duty, where citizens are occasionally called upon to participate in a jury. Other than that, citizens are required to pay taxes and obey laws, but I do not think there are any other required services.

Military service is not required in the United States. However during times in the past such as during the Vietnam War, there have been drafts in which you could end up having to serve. I do not have any interest in joining the military, and it has never really seemed like an option as a career. I think this is mostly due to the household I was raised in. However, as others have talked about, recently, especially in our more liberal area of Boston, patriotism and feelings of national pride have been frowned upon as we reckon with the many flaws throughout society in America. Additionally, the military is no longer held in as high regard.

I think my willingness to serve in the military would depend entirely on the circumstance. For example, our military is often involved in wars that I and many others think are unnecessary and unjust, such as the Vietnam War. In this case, I would do by best not to have to serve. However, if a situation like World War 2 were to happen again, in which our military was fighting against the Nazis, I would have no problem serving and might even do so under my own will. In a case like this, where there is so clearly just cause, I could not justify not serving, despite the awful possible consequences of war.

Similar to many others, I fell much more pride for living in Boston and within Massachusetts. I guess this makes sense, as the United States also emphasizes states rights more than the power of a centralized federal government. The fact that my ideals and political views align more with my city and state than the country as a whole contribute to this heightened sense of pride, and I would be willing to sacrifice more for my community, city, and state, than for my country as a whole.

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There are only a few things that America require: serve jury duty and be willing to be drafted, however the latter is only for men of a certain age. If you are a citizen, you have to file taxes to the US government every single year regardless of where you currently live. I agree that serving in the military is no easy task and should be respected, they all go through near death experiences or suffer a painful injury.

However, I’m definitely intimidated by the military and warfare.  I already know that the vast majority of veterans suffer PTSD of some kind and have to not only witness horrific trauma  but also bear a tremendous load on their shoulders if they do survive. The field is notorious for being a very uncomfortable space for women, LTBTQ+ folks, and people of color. Even if I am physically fit, these factors alone make me want to stay far, far away from the military.

That being said, even though I know I won’t be that useful physically-wise, I do think I have other skills which I might have in the future that I could put to use (technology, medical), but again, all the dangers of warfare and death scare me a lot. I do feel like a lot of Americans around the country share the same sentiment of Rayna, that they’re more loyal to their hometown or state rather than the country. Jack’s assertion that serving actually means serving the US government and not protecting your country is really interesting. It’s really important to know why the US is fighting in the first. Is it because otherwise, every American will die? Or is it because of a cause that I personally disagree with? If it’s the latter, it’s much harder for me to justify serving the country.

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In the US, surprisingly, we aren't asked to do much in terms of individual obligations to serve our country. We are asked to pay taxes in order to fund our institutions, but most of everything else is made optional. Of course voting is encouraged in order to have a say in what political and governmental direction our country is going to go into, but many choose not to do so and don't feel like it matters. Military service is also optional, although there used to be a draft that was eliminated a long time ago.

This level of individual choice is celebrated as a constitutional choice in a country founded on the basis of personal freedom. But when does it go so far as to deter at the level of community engagement and completion of civic responsibilities? Over the generations, the American population has began to not trust our institutions to be working for us because there hasn't been enough of a presence of these governmental programs in communities to advocate for them. I can say for myself that I don't feel like I have the same sort of nationalism and patriotism that other generations have had because there hasn't been the same presence of American institutions in my community or I have grown skeptical of them because of things I don't agree with. It is a complicated question on whether I would serve for a country that I don't feel much attachment to or am deeply skeptical of.

In order to incentivize more community engagement and awareness, our country needs to invest in methods to inform the public on how our institutions work and insert them into the every day lives of every citizen.

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A U.S. citizen really has no obligations in terms of serving their country.  Serving in the military, voting, and helping others are not things that are required by law. So, anything I choose to do for my country is my decision. To be honest I think that is a really privileged thing to say because I know a lot of people are required to risk so much more for their country whether they want to or not. I also think that something like voting should be mandatory because even if the outcome doesn't affect you, it does affect a lot of other people. This is something that was clearly evident in this past presidential election.

In terms of being a good person and helping people in any way that I can, that isn't violent, is definitely something I would like to think that I do. Serving in the military is a whole different issue because I'm not really sure what I would do. If the US was fighting in a war that I did not agree with then I would most definitely not fight in it. On the other hand if the outcome of this war could put my loved ones in any danger, then I would consider joining the military. Then again, if there was any other way that didn't involve killing people to protect my loved ones I would choose that. I would choose that option because I believe that killing another human is the worst crime you could ever commit. If I had to kill a bunch of people, I don't think I could do it or see the point in living after committing such a heinous act.

Ultimately, I can't say if I would fight or not because that is a decision that you can't make unless you're in the moment when it's really happening.

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Here in the United States, our country was founded upon the notions of individual liberty and personal freedoms. As an American citizen nearing the age of 18, I can’t think of any mandatory civic responsibilities that I must take care of as a result of my country’s governing body. While we do have civic obligations, which includes voting, respecting the Constitution, and being a good ‘Samaritan’ overall, there are no legally obligated responsibilities that a US citizen must fulfill within their lifetime.

This unique aspect of the United States then leads to the question of whether our citizens feel national pride or a sense of duty to their country. Nationalism, or patriotism, has long been an integral theme within America. In wars, this message is what drives many people to enlist within the army. This theme can also be adapted to encourage people to vote, and thus further the good of our country. However, in recent years, especially during the time period surrounding the 2020 election, national pride has become a somewhat controversial subject. Conservative-leaning US citizens tend to echo various traditionally nationalist sentiments, while accusing members of the other party (liberal-leaning citizens) for lacking patriotism and love for their country. In response, some liberal Americans state that they display patriotism by accepting the country’s flaws and contemplating on how they can be fixed. Nonetheless, national pride in the US is most certainly not what it used to be.

Another issue regarding nationalism within the United States arose as a result of our country’s multi-ethnic population. In light of recent racial controversies, non-white American citizens have shared a message of feeling ‘not accepted’ within their country. This aspect of the US differs greatly from other areas of the world. Objectively, it’s much easier to create a national identity when the ethnical population of the country is homogenous. This is not the case in the US.

On a personal level, I’m slightly conflicted regarding my view of America. Growing up in an immigrant family, there were various instances where I felt that people of my race were not being accepted nor treated on an equal ‘playing field’, so to speak. However, I do also recognize the opportunities and privileges of living in a free country such as the US. As I approach adulthood, I believe that I do feel a certain sense of national pride within my country. While it may not be to an extreme extent, I feel that my experiences within the country have solidified my willingness to undertake certain things for the benefit of other American citizens and the country as a whole.

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In America, the only mandatory responsibilities I can think of is to pay our taxes in order to fund public services like education and health programs and jury duty. There are many civic obligations that are encouraged such as voting and community service. With voting, it's a way for the people's voice to be heard and it only does more harm than good if one doesn't vote. Many high schools across the United States have a mandatory graduation requirement of community service. BLS specifically has 100 required community service hours. I would say that I would be glad to do any of these obligations as they help further my community. My taxes would directly help public services for people who cannot afford them, voting directly helps me as my opinions can be heard through legislation, and community service fosters community bonding with people in your nearby neighborhoods and ultimately help for a greater good.

Aside from these, I don't feel obligated to do much more. As I see the flaws in our government, I am not sure if I can hold those nationalist and patriot ideas that many other countries have. This would also mean that I would not have much devotion if I were to be drafted, which would most likely never happen again. The last time a military draft was ordered was during the Vietnam War and it received much backlash from the public. President Johnson justified this draft of males ranging from ages 18-25 with the idea that America should intervene into other countries in order to help them. This influences my idea of the military as I do not want to join something that leads to unnecessary war. Because of this, you will not see me voluntarily joining the military soon. And not to mention the many veterans who suffer from PTSD and trauma, I do not want to have that risk.

The military has also discriminated against the LGBTQ+ community with Trump's recent(-ish) military ban on trans people. If joining the military was voluntary, I would not want to join if they actively discriminate against a whole community.

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Lilah Gutlerner, USA, Boston, Massachusetts 

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Lilah Gutlerner, USA, Boston, Massachusetts 

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America prides itself on being, "The Land of the Free," but they only really like to stick to that when it is beneficial. It is taken very seriously when it comes to civic obligations. People are so consumed with the notion of their individual freedom, that they will not even allow facial coverings to be required for everyone to wear at all times. Some claim this mandate to be a violation of their freedom.

There are very few civil obligations that every American is expected to uphold. We are expected to all be law abiding citizens, and face the consequences if we are not. We are all supposed to pay our taxes on time, although our own president does not seem to be doing that. We are also required to attend jury duty when we are summoned for it. There has not been a military draft since the Vietnam War, although I do not doubt that the U.S. government would be quick to put this into place again.

On a more personal level, I believe I have obligations to my own community. At school, I am required to complete certain things in order to graduate. At home, my parents expect me to graduate from high school, and also to help in any necessary ways around the house and with my brother. I feel the obligation to at any point do anything in my power to protect and support them from any harm.

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The only obligation I can think of that adult US citizens are required to do is to pay taxes. People have the choice of joining the military if they want to serve for our country, but it is not a requirement.

It's interesting to think about what I would be willing to do for my country. I, personally, don't feel any sort of attachment to the US. Within the past couple of years, I especially don't feel the need to be associated with the it. I have more pride for my state and my city. Perhaps if I were from a different country, I would be more inclined to join the military, I would be more patriotic, but I still don't think I would want to serve in the military.

From a young age, we are told that the people in the military are heroes, that we should respect our veterans and I agree that we should have the utmost respect for the people who have fought for our country, it's honorable that they are willing to risk their ives for a cause, but I don't really agree with the idea that they are heroes. We shouldn't glorify war. War is not a necessity, war can be prevented, but we praise the people who kill the most "enemies".

This may sound strange, but war seems almost childish to me. The fact that two or more nations can't come to an agreement is ridiculous. I understand that sometimes war has to be used to prevent dangerous events from occurring, and maybe I only think this way because I've never had to serve, but I don't think having a military is that necessary.

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In the United States of America, we are expected to perform certain duties under the law when we turn 18. We are expected to vote, identify with a political party, be a part of the legal process through jury duty, and most all men must sign up for selective service. I'/m willing to do all of these things under certain circumstances. I'm willing to vote and I'm very excited I will be able to vote in the next president election. I don't really know what jury duty is, all I know is my parents hate it, so I'm not excited to do it, but I'd still be willing to be a part of the country's legal process. Something I am not willing to do, and this may be controversial for some people and I totally understand why, but I am not willing to join the army to die in the middle east for an oil company.  Serving in the military is the ultimate form of service for your country, because you could give the ultimate sacrifice by doing so. If something happened to America, like an attack, I would be more obligated to serve but if America shoots first, I wouldn't want to serve. If something like Pearl Harbor or 9/11  happened, I would feel the need to serve. But earlier in the year when the U.S. attacked Iranian general Qasem Soleimani, I wouldn't want to serve. I wouldn't want to serve my country if it was the aggressor. On the United States Coat of Arms, there is our national bird, the bald eagle, holding two things in each of its arms. On the left side it holds and olive branch and on the right side it holds 13 arrows, symbolic of the first 13 American colonies. When in elementary school I was taught the reason the eagle holds an olive branch is because the U.S. would never seek out violence, or attack a nation without provocation. I was taught the reason the eagle holds arrow is because if the U.S. was ever attacked it wouldn't hesitate to strike back. I would serve my country for the olive branch, never for the arrows.

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I believe that there are many things everyone can do to help and protect their country and their community. I like to think that I would be willing to do anything for my country, my neighbors, and my community, but it is interesting to think about whether I would serve in the military. Growing up I always thought about going into the military as something other people did, not something that I would one day do. While I have a ton of respect for the people that choose to go into the military and fight for the country, I personally hate war and the idea of fighting other people, and I do not think I would be able justify doing those things in order to serve the country.

I think everyone has a civic obligation to help their country in any way they can, but I do not think this necessarily means serving in the military. As other people said, military service is not a civic obligation in the United States, however there are different situations in which people are required to serve. Obviously if we were in a war or some other kind of national emergency where there was a draft, many people would be drafted to serve and protect the country. Although being a woman, I would probably be excluded from a draft, I think the idea that I serve in the military depends entirely on what is happening in the country and world. If there were a threat that impacted my community, family, or had a big impact on the whole country I would think about serving in the military in some capacity. As other people have mentioned, serving in the military is often more serving the government which I do not agree with, but if there were an imminent threat I would like to think that I would serve to protect the people of the country.

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My civil obligations as a U.S. citizen are paying my taxes on time and participating in our judicial system through jury duty. Another civil responsibility that I have is completing 100 hours of community service, which is also a graduation requirement for high school. I know that many high schools around the country have a community service requirement. However, I believe that community service should be required for every citizen in the nation, not just high school students. It would improve our community and give everyone a better understanding of how important it is to help others and give back to our community.

Even though military service is a civic obligation in many other countries (including South Korea, Israel, and Brazil), it is not a requirement in the United States. Like some of my peers, I see it as a career path that allows individuals to fight for and protect our country. I personally would not want to participate in the military, since I am not as fit or athletic as I hope to be so my efforts would be a waste. In my case, the costs would outweigh the benefits. Instead, I would like to serve my country in a different way by raising awareness for and fighting against the social and racial injustices in my community and nation. Through advocacy and volunteering, I want to help protect citizens’ rights and lift the voices of individuals, who have been silenced.

In addition, I have obligations and responsibilities towards my family, which can mean helping them with daily tasks and protecting them from any danger or harm. I would serve and support my family both in times of peace and crisis, as we are very close with each other. If I am passionate towards or care about someone or something, I would be willing to take action to support and defend them.

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Individual liberty has always been a priority in America, and I think that is why are civic obligation under the law is very limited. We are all expected to abide by the laws made by our government, but outside of that we are free to be as uninvolved with the government or community as we please. We aren't required to join the military or hold public service jobs, even voting is optional.
The most extreme example of forced civic obligation that I can think of are the military drafts that happened during past wars. I don't believe that it is fair to force citizens to abandon their futures and families at home to risk their lives fighting in a war they did not start. In the Vietnam War, many of the young men drafted were people of color who faced discrimination from their fellow Americans. They risked and lost their lives in great numbers for a country that did not respect them or treat them with equality. Many Americans directly opposed the war and protested for its end as well. Things have improved since then, but I still don't think people should be forced to fight for a cause they may not support.
I honestly don't know much about the recent conflicts the US is involved in right now, like the war in Afghanistan. We are lucky that this has all faded to the background for us, meanwhile it probably defines the daily lives of people living near active combat zones. Despite having relatives who served, a military career was never presented as a possibility for me because of my gender and my parents' careers. If something big did happen to  threaten our national security or certain freedoms, I might consider enlisting, but I would never want to serve in a combat zone. This might be weird, but I can see myself taking up arms against our own government (should some extreme violation of rights occur) more than a foreign one. I also understand the mental and physical toll war can have, and the upsetting number of veterans who don't receive proper care or end up homeless. This, in addition to a decrease in patriotic sentiments, is probably why few young people (at least in our community) see the military as a viable career path. I think we are also less accustomed to and accepting of violence nowadays, and I don't think any of us are capable of killing or seriously injuring another person. Because of our education, we also have very many other options available to us. I am very grateful to live in America, but I think I can better serve my country in other ways than joining the military. I hope that someday I will have a career that contributes to the greater good, or at least doesn't cause anymore harm. I would also like to continue volunteering in my community and using my voice, dollar, and vote to advocate for issues that I care about.

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I am going to be honest, I don't know a lot about my civic obligation and responsibility to my country. I am privileged to say that I have a choice in what I choose to do, say, and act. When I think about my civic obligation and responsibility, the first thing that comes to mind is paying my taxes, which has loop holes in some situations, and voting, which is all about ones choice.

Although when I do think about the military, I think it's a choice to be there. In America we have not had a drafting since the Vietnam war, therefore I have not thought about what I would do if there was a call to action. I think its important to acknowledge that it is a privilege that I have the outlet to even have an option to not be enrolled. I know that there are programs that specialize in the training of armed forces, but I have never myself thought about joining. Like "military service? It's not for me" I see the military as any other job that people apply and work for. If I had an option, the question of what would I do would stem from how much do I care? For me, I would feel a stronger connection with my family than to the obligation of the state or the country. The more personal that it is to me, the more I would want to fend for what I hold close. There's also the question of "what am I fighting for?" If I believe in the cause strongly enough, I would believe I would step forward. Although that also brings in the question, how safe is everything going to be? Radical change versus slight change to a place where I do not have a stand in, why would I? I know that this is selfish of me to say, as it probably affects so many people, but it really depends on the circumstance. If I am putting my life on the line for a cause, I don't want it  to go to waste. However, I know that the military does not only consist of fighters, but people who help, nurses who tend, people who cook, and many more occupations. I think I would be more willing, if I knew I could help out in a way that I knew would be a good use of my time. I am not going to hide that I am not physically fit. The wind is knocked out of me going up three flights of stairs at Boston Latin. Therefore why would I risk my time in a place where I know I would be making no significance. Theres also the factor of the trauma, and the weight of a war has on a person even if they have survived. It puts into question, what is the worth of lives, for an argument. It is likely that my reasoning and my morals are tainted due to the privilege I have had since I was little, although I do believe we all can make a contribution to what we firmly believe in. I think it just leads to the question of how.

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I believe that I am held to the duty of being a law abiding citizen within my country. My civic obligation is to respect the rules put in place in order to maintain a peaceful community. Although there is the option, you are not forced to join the military nor have the responsibility to protect its people. For most this choice would be based off of the reason behind the fight. As Regina said it largely depends on the importance of the issue and whether it is a crucial cause. I do not think that I would participate in the military for many reasons. I am very against violence and joining would contradict my beliefs and values. Additionally, I think previous wars America has partaken in have not been necessary to benefit or save our country. The military also has a detrimental impact on both physical and mental health sometimes indefinitely. The immense trauma those are forced to encounter as they serve is unimaginable. It involves rigorous and constant practice with long periods of schooling. I respect those who have the determination to endure this strenuous process and risk their lives to serve the country. Even if something happened to my country, I would stand by my decision of refraining from joining the military.

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It's interesting to me to really be asked to consider whether I'd be willing to serve my country through military service. In my community, it seems enlisting in the military is seen not as particularly encouraged or the way of honor, but more a career path that someone takes, no different in its abstract from training to be a mechanic or lawyer (though of course, in practice being a soldier is vastly different from civilian jobs). I think I can safely say the answer is no from me on that question, on the principle that most American military action comes with little benefit to the American people (see: Iraq and Vietnam wars). Additionally, drawbacks including great personal risk, an almost guaranteed development of trauma/PTSD, and spotty history in terms of the morality of the American army (i.e., committing war crimes), would all dissuade me from joining. Thinking about it now, the problem with being in the army is that you're really not serving  your country- you're serving its government. And I don't agree with many of the actions the American government takes, so I wouldn't be comfortable serving it.

However, this question of what I would do if there was a real, imminent, serious threat facing the American people complicates things. Whereas normally I would not see the US military as a vehicle for doing good, in this instance it would be. So, I might be more inclined to reflect on it and consider joining, but at the end of the day I think my answer would be the same. Frankly, I just haven't been raised in a way that makes me see the US military as helpful and something to look up to, and it would be hard to change that. And, unhappy as I am to say this, I'd probably end up prioritizing my own comfort and happiness. The military is a rigorous and demanding environment, physically and socially. It's known for being a place for mostly straight white men, so, being gay, I would be pretty stressed/uncomfortable going into it, and I'm not someone who's very athletic or interested in a physically rigorous lifestyle. Plus, I have strong nonviolent values and I shudder at the thought of killing someone.